Premier says no firm timelines for sanctioning project in place

Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones told reporters Monday it will be years before the proposed Lower Churchill project will be developed.

And Premier Danny Williams admitted the province no longer has any firm timelines in place to see the project sanctioned and get underway.

Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones (left) and Premier Danny Williams speak to the media following question period at the House of Assembly Monday afternoon regarding the Lower Churchill project. - Photo by Joe Gibbons/The Telegram

Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones told reporters Monday it will be years before the proposed Lower Churchill project will be developed.

And Premier Danny Williams admitted the province no longer has any firm timelines in place to see the project sanctioned and get underway.

In the House of Assembly Monday, Jones asked a number of questions about the progress of the Lower Churchill including how much work has been done so far on the Maritime transmission route, if environmental impact studies for that route have been filed and if technical problems could delay the project from taking power to the other Atlantic provinces and down into the United States.

"There absolutely will be technical issues that will impact upon the project," replied the premier. "Anybody with a clue at all would know that there's going to be some technical issues when you do a $6-billion to $12-billion project. (But) I can tell the honourable member opposite that there will be no technical difficulties that will be a complete obstacle that would ever prevent that project from happening."

He then told Jones to "stop reading Quebec propaganda" put out by Hydro-Quebec and carried in mainland newspapers like the Globe and Mail.

But the Opposition leader suggested Williams was dodging her questions.

"It is a very typical show that you see in question period. Whenever the government has the heat put on them, when there are questions they do not want to answer, the first thing they do, Mr. Speaker, is they stand up and attack the person who is asking the questions (and) question their patronage," Jones snapped back.

Meanwhile, Natural Resources Minister Kathy Dunderdale told Jones the province will only file an environmental impact study for the Maritime route if that's the final route chosen.

After question period Williams and Jones spoke to reporters.

That's when Williams said there is no timeline for the project.

"It's difficult to pin down a date," he said. "We're just going to keep moving forward."

Williams then listed what the province has done towards the project so far including filing environmental assessments for the proposed generating sites - and the transmission path to the island - and the agreement reached with the Labrador Innu, which has yet to be ratified.

"I'd like to do it tomorrow, quite frankly. Get it done. But we can't rush it and we do have a strategy in place," the premier continued.

Jones said though "everyone in this province wants to see the Lower Churchill project developed," the project is still years and years away from becoming a reality.

She said a route through Quebec is looking more and more unlikely and an environmental assessment on a maritime route could take three to five years to complete, if and when the paperwork is eventually filed.

"It's been a soapbox for the government. It's been a platform for them to basically stand as fighting Newfoundlanders and taking on Quebec. But at the end of the day we're nowhere near getting a deal done on the Lower Churchill," she told reporters.

Jones said she would like to see the province move towards discussions with Ottawa and the government of Quebec to get around the current impasse.

Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones (left) and Premier Danny Williams speak to the media following question period at the House of Assembly Monday afternoon regarding the Lower Churchill project. - Photo by Joe Gibbons/The Telegram

John Smith, when you say 'there are so many who would like to stymie our progress in any way ... she may have to go to Quebec to get a job ... jump aboard the enemies boat', are you tipping everyone off that you share Danny's vile talking points?

So when the Lower Churchill is developed and they place a marble bust of Danny Williams in the office space entrance, will it have his hair parted in the middle or to the side like he wears it now. I vote for to the side, it looked stupid iparted n the middle.

I have a philosophy that one should not critisize someone or something unless in the next breath, you can offer a viable alternative. Yvonne finds it easy to be critical but is very short on alternatives, so in my mind, she has no credibility.

We also need a regime change in N.B. too, so that hopefully someone trustworthy there will be able to negotiate with us, after that Quebec Power fiasco!

John Smith, do you really think that Yvonne Jones takes any pleasure in pointing out the lies and misinformation the Williams government throws out almost every day? Do you really think that she would rather see a profitable Lower Churchill not go ahead so that she can keep her seat? She's more than eligible for a full pension, and leading an opposition of 4 against the most popular party in NL's history is hardly the most lucrative job in the world. Williams has not shown any progress on the Lower Churchill, and rather than acept reality and move on, he's opted to play the blame game and try to make excuses for his failings. Yvonne Jones is simply bringing to light the information that Williams is unwilling to tell us voluntarily. I'm sure that she, like all citizens of this province, would put her personal ambitions aside if it meant that this province would be a better place. Every citizen, that is, except Danny Williams, who's obsession with a project that will not occur in the near term blinds him to all the other positive things that we could be doing. He is bent on making his personal dream a reality at any cost. Joey got himself into the same bind - and look at how that worked out. Who's really working in the province's best interest?

Back in elementary school we used to have a saying about those that made grandiose claims but did nothing to prove they could deliver on them. 'Big talk, no action'. That saying fits Danny Williams and his government perfectly. Lot's of rhetoric and claims, but nothing of substance. Keep telling the people what they want to hear Dan so you can get reelected to do more of the same. Big talk, no action.

Tusk...I see nothing in Yvonne's questions or comments that suggest she views anything as easy. She is asking questions, and frankly, that is what she is supposed to do. The fact that our Premier treats all questions with disdain and views them as treasonous is both a reflection of his personality and, apparently, politically correct in NL.

Nothing will ever happen with respect to the Lower Churchill until Danny Williams is out of the picture for good. The man cant negotiate his way out of a wet paper bag. Hurl insults and say how much everyone hates us and tell us how lucky we are to have him as our premier so that he can fight off big bad Quebec. Danny Williams is all talk and very little action, but then again that is what he does best after all. Danny boy you can talk until the cows come home nothing will happen at the lower Churchill until you are all washed up. The sooner that happens the better.

Yvonne Jones is absolutely right here. Williams is typically smug and condescending. At least he has finally conceded that this ain't happening for a long time. Sorry King Danny - the jewel of your political legacy won't be happening for you, third term or not.

I echo the comments of IC Clearly. For those blind faith supporters who think that anyone who opposes Premier Williams or even dares question him or his administration are haters, Quebec lovers, Liberals, or whatever...please open your minds. This regime is not the end all and be all. There are monumental mistakes intertwined with success in this and all previous governments. Just because some of us express our views opposite, or support other parties, or take another position, or view it differently than the party line, does not make us haters or the enemy!
Please respect the opinions and viewpoints of all posters (and, imposters). We all love our province dearly and wish nothing but success, well-being, prosperity and good health and wealth to our people. So, just because we ask questions, we do not hate you and love Quebec! Get over it and get on with it; think independently and speak freely.

I am not going to criticize either Mr. Williams or Ms. Jones ... obviously the forces of the world economy and those of North American politics are at play here and will ultimately dictate if and when the Lower Churchill will be developed ... both of these forces are much bigger than either Williams or Jones, who are only small fish in BIG pond. Yes it will benefit Nfld. to have the L.C. Project come to fruition, but the larger picture is the global energy supply on a planet of ever increasing human population vs an ever decreasing supply of natural resources. We (the whole world) needs a Manhattan Project for energy, where the intellectual and financial resources of ALL of the developed nations are put to bear on solving the problem of sustainable nuclear fusion ... thus solving the energy problem for all time.

HEY STOP THE RACKET!!!
Maybe if GIVEAWAY GRIMES were still in the picture the LowerChurchill would be signed,sealed and delivered...to QuebecHydro.QH is determined to stop any chance of us Clampetts from NL
getting any hydro deals made.

It's funny how when Yvonne finds something negative to squak about she does so with such relish. She loves to side with Quebec, or anyone else who would love to see us hindered, she seems to take some sort of perverted joy in it. It doesn't bother her that there are so many who would like to stymie our progress in any way, she could care less. As long as she can score a few political points, that's all she cares about, herself, and her chances at holding on to her seat. When she is voted out she may have to go to Quebec to get a job, like her buddy Brian Tobin. That's how the liberals do it folks, they sell us down the river, then jump aboard the enemies boat.

The comments are so hind sighted here makes me laugh.Just once if the locals would stop and look at the big picture for a minute and ask the question why hydro Quebec don't want us to get this project off the ground on our own.One simple statement profits by Quebec if we get this power in the market place on our own hydro Quebec would make as much on the exsisting deal it does take a complete morn to figure that out or you guys would have nailed it long ago.

John Smith, when you say 'there are so many who would like to stymie our progress in any way ... she may have to go to Quebec to get a job ... jump aboard the enemies boat', are you tipping everyone off that you share Danny's vile talking points?

So when the Lower Churchill is developed and they place a marble bust of Danny Williams in the office space entrance, will it have his hair parted in the middle or to the side like he wears it now. I vote for to the side, it looked stupid iparted n the middle.

I have a philosophy that one should not critisize someone or something unless in the next breath, you can offer a viable alternative. Yvonne finds it easy to be critical but is very short on alternatives, so in my mind, she has no credibility.

We also need a regime change in N.B. too, so that hopefully someone trustworthy there will be able to negotiate with us, after that Quebec Power fiasco!

John Smith, do you really think that Yvonne Jones takes any pleasure in pointing out the lies and misinformation the Williams government throws out almost every day? Do you really think that she would rather see a profitable Lower Churchill not go ahead so that she can keep her seat? She's more than eligible for a full pension, and leading an opposition of 4 against the most popular party in NL's history is hardly the most lucrative job in the world. Williams has not shown any progress on the Lower Churchill, and rather than acept reality and move on, he's opted to play the blame game and try to make excuses for his failings. Yvonne Jones is simply bringing to light the information that Williams is unwilling to tell us voluntarily. I'm sure that she, like all citizens of this province, would put her personal ambitions aside if it meant that this province would be a better place. Every citizen, that is, except Danny Williams, who's obsession with a project that will not occur in the near term blinds him to all the other positive things that we could be doing. He is bent on making his personal dream a reality at any cost. Joey got himself into the same bind - and look at how that worked out. Who's really working in the province's best interest?

Back in elementary school we used to have a saying about those that made grandiose claims but did nothing to prove they could deliver on them. 'Big talk, no action'. That saying fits Danny Williams and his government perfectly. Lot's of rhetoric and claims, but nothing of substance. Keep telling the people what they want to hear Dan so you can get reelected to do more of the same. Big talk, no action.

Tusk...I see nothing in Yvonne's questions or comments that suggest she views anything as easy. She is asking questions, and frankly, that is what she is supposed to do. The fact that our Premier treats all questions with disdain and views them as treasonous is both a reflection of his personality and, apparently, politically correct in NL.

Nothing will ever happen with respect to the Lower Churchill until Danny Williams is out of the picture for good. The man cant negotiate his way out of a wet paper bag. Hurl insults and say how much everyone hates us and tell us how lucky we are to have him as our premier so that he can fight off big bad Quebec. Danny Williams is all talk and very little action, but then again that is what he does best after all. Danny boy you can talk until the cows come home nothing will happen at the lower Churchill until you are all washed up. The sooner that happens the better.

Yvonne Jones is absolutely right here. Williams is typically smug and condescending. At least he has finally conceded that this ain't happening for a long time. Sorry King Danny - the jewel of your political legacy won't be happening for you, third term or not.

I echo the comments of IC Clearly. For those blind faith supporters who think that anyone who opposes Premier Williams or even dares question him or his administration are haters, Quebec lovers, Liberals, or whatever...please open your minds. This regime is not the end all and be all. There are monumental mistakes intertwined with success in this and all previous governments. Just because some of us express our views opposite, or support other parties, or take another position, or view it differently than the party line, does not make us haters or the enemy!
Please respect the opinions and viewpoints of all posters (and, imposters). We all love our province dearly and wish nothing but success, well-being, prosperity and good health and wealth to our people. So, just because we ask questions, we do not hate you and love Quebec! Get over it and get on with it; think independently and speak freely.

I am not going to criticize either Mr. Williams or Ms. Jones ... obviously the forces of the world economy and those of North American politics are at play here and will ultimately dictate if and when the Lower Churchill will be developed ... both of these forces are much bigger than either Williams or Jones, who are only small fish in BIG pond. Yes it will benefit Nfld. to have the L.C. Project come to fruition, but the larger picture is the global energy supply on a planet of ever increasing human population vs an ever decreasing supply of natural resources. We (the whole world) needs a Manhattan Project for energy, where the intellectual and financial resources of ALL of the developed nations are put to bear on solving the problem of sustainable nuclear fusion ... thus solving the energy problem for all time.

HEY STOP THE RACKET!!!
Maybe if GIVEAWAY GRIMES were still in the picture the LowerChurchill would be signed,sealed and delivered...to QuebecHydro.QH is determined to stop any chance of us Clampetts from NL
getting any hydro deals made.

It's funny how when Yvonne finds something negative to squak about she does so with such relish. She loves to side with Quebec, or anyone else who would love to see us hindered, she seems to take some sort of perverted joy in it. It doesn't bother her that there are so many who would like to stymie our progress in any way, she could care less. As long as she can score a few political points, that's all she cares about, herself, and her chances at holding on to her seat. When she is voted out she may have to go to Quebec to get a job, like her buddy Brian Tobin. That's how the liberals do it folks, they sell us down the river, then jump aboard the enemies boat.

The comments are so hind sighted here makes me laugh.Just once if the locals would stop and look at the big picture for a minute and ask the question why hydro Quebec don't want us to get this project off the ground on our own.One simple statement profits by Quebec if we get this power in the market place on our own hydro Quebec would make as much on the exsisting deal it does take a complete morn to figure that out or you guys would have nailed it long ago.